Loose leaf binder



July 16, 1940. w NELSON 2,208,226

Filed Jan. 29, 1938 July 16, 1940. w NELSON LOOSE LEAF BINDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledJan. 29, 1938 July 16, 1940. w, NELSON 2,208,226

LOOSE LEAF BINDER I Filed Jan. 29, 1958 s Sheets-Sheet 5 the binder. 7 tion to provide means for holding the locking Patented July 16, 1940 PATENT OFFICE LOOSE LEAF BINDER William Nelson, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Wilson- Jones Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 29, 1938, Serial No. 187,64

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a loose leaf binder of the type commonly called post binders, and refers particularly to the mechanism for actuating the post locking mechanism.

It is an object of this invention to provide simple and eiiicient means for'locking the top cover of a post binder to the sheet retaining posts projecting upwardly fromthe, bottom portion of It is a further object of this inven means in locked or open position so that both hands ofthe user are free to manipulate the binder and contents. Other objects of this ina vention will become apparent upon reading the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

. Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective View of a loose leaf binder embodying the invention; Figure 2 is'a perspective detail view of the post locking mechanism and actuating mechanism therefor in disassembled position;

Figure 3 is a top plan View of the upper clamp ing member with the top of the tubular housing removed showing the post locking mechanism in locking position;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 3; t

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the post locking mechanism in open position;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIVI of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional View taken along J the line VIIIVIII of Figure '1; and

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the embodiment of Figures 7 and 8.

In the "drawings, the reference numeral 2 indicates a cover member to which a post carrying 40 member 3 is hingedly connected. A plurality of sheet retaining posts 4 may be permanently fixed to the member 3, or may screw into sockets pro vided in said post carrying member. A plurality of sheets 5 may be impaled upon the posts 4'. The

top cover member 6 is provided with a clamping open top box' l2 rigidly secured thereto a short distance from each pair of apertures 9.

The box [2 has one wall l3 recessed to form a projection. l4 thereon. 'A locking lever I5 is provided with a tail portion l6 apertured, as indicated at l l, to receive the projection M therein. The locking leveris fulcrumed on the wall l3 and the engagement of the projection 14 and aperture l1 prevents displacement of the locking lever. A coiled spring [8 contained in the box l2 exerts constant presure against the tail portion Hi to urge the locking lever towards locking position. The lever I5 is provided with an aperture IQ of a size sufficient to permit free movement of the housing 1 on the posts 4 when the lever I5 is parallel to the top wall of the housing, but small enough to bind against the posts land prevent upward movement of the housing when the lever is at an angle to the parallel walls of the housing.

A slide member 201s positioned in the tubular housing l. One end of the slide member is bifur cated to provide a pair of projecting tines 2i spaced apart far enough for a box l2 to rest between them. A locking lever l5 has one end resting on the tines 2|. The tines M are inclined, as indicated at 22, so that sliding movement of the member will cause the end of the locking lever IE to be-raised until the locking lever is parallel to the top wall of the tubular housing.

The opposite endof the slide member 20 is pro-" vided with a rectangular aperture 23 in which another box I2 is positioned. A locking lever l5 has one end resting on the strips 24 formed by dieing outthe aperture 23. The strips 24 are provided with an inclined surface 25 corresponding to the inclines 22. The end of the sliding member 20 beyond the aperture 23 is bent to form a shoulder 26.

A 1ink 2'l' provided with an upstanding flange 28 abutting the shoulder 26 is secured to the slide member 20 by means of a pair of hooks 29 extending from the flange 28 over the top of the shoulder 26. It will be understood that the link 21 may be formed integral with the sliding member 20, but I prefer to form it as a separate member for manufacturing economy. The end of the link 2! opposite the shoulder 28 is oifset, as indicated at 30 and is provided with a diagonally extending slot 3|.

The end cap If! is slotted, as indicated at 32, and an operating lever 33 is pivoted therein, as indicated at 34. One end of the lever 33 projects on the outside of the end cap and is provided with a suitable enlargement 35 to facilitate manipulation of the lever. The innerend of the lever 33 and the tines 2|.

rabut the fiange 26 of the slide member 40.

movement of slide member 40 from inoperative;

is connected to the link 21 by means of a stud 36 passing through the slot 3|. A tension spring 31 has one end secured to the end cap, as indicated at 38, and the other end secured to a projection 39 extending upwardly from the flange 28.

The spring 31 exerts a constant force on the link 21 urging the link, and consequently the slide member 20, toward the end cap l so as to permit springs l8 to retain the locking mechanism in post locking position. When the lever 33 is operated to move the post locking mechanism to open position the end of the lever 33 i connected to the link 21 is moved past the dead center 34 and the tension of the spring 31 retains the releasing mechanism in operative position, wherein the surfaces 22 and 25 in turn retain the post locking mechanism in open po sition.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures '7, 8 and 9 differs from the one previously described only in the slide and means for moving the slide. Accordingly, the description of the other mechanismwill not be repeated.

In this embodiment the slide member 40 is similar to the slide member 20 but is provided with a raised portion 4| between the aperture 23 The raised portion 4| is apertured, as indicated at 42, and is provided with a tongue 43 extending longitudinally of the aperture. The tongue 43 is almost the same'length as the aperture 42, but a small space is allowed to permit a compression spring 44 to be impaled on the tongue. A box member 45 is secured to the lower wall of the tubular housing by any suitable means to provide an abutment for one The boxend of the spring to press against. member 45 is designed to fit in the aperture42 and straddle the tongue 43. erts constant force against the slide member 40 :urging it toward inoperative position.

to post releasing position the roller 48 is moved from one side of the dead centerto the other so that the spring 44 is effective to retain the releasing mechanism in either operative or inoperative position.

Although I have described two preferred embodiments of my invention in detail it will be understood that the description thereof is illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many details of the structure may be modified or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact construction described, except as limited bythe appended claims.

I claim:

1; In a loose leaf binder, a tubular housing, a slotted end cap closing one end of said housing, a lever pivoted adjacent said end of said housing and having a finger piece projecting through said The spring 44 ex-- slot, and post locking mechanism within said housing and releasable by said lever.

2. In a loose leaf binder, a tubular housing, an end cap closing one end of said housing, post locking mechanism in said housing, a slide member engaging said locking mechanism, and a lever secured to said end cap and pivoted to swing transversely of said housing to impart longitudinal movement to said slide member.

3. In a loose leaf binder, a tubular housing, post locking mechanism in said housing, a slide member operable to move said locking mechanism fro-m locking to open position, a lever provided with a roller abutting one end of said slide member, and spring means to maintain said slide member in engagement with said rollers.

4. In a loose leaf binder, a tubular housing, a slotted end cap closing one end of said housing, locking mechanism in said housing, a slide member engaging said locking mechanism, a link engaging said slide member, said link having a diagonally extending slot, and a lever projecting through said slotted end cap, said lever engaging said diagonal slot whereby movement of said lever is transmitted to said locking mechanism.

5. In a loose leaf binder, a tubular housing, a locking lever in said tubular housing, a slide member operable to move said locking lever from locking to open position, a link connected to said slide member and provided with a diagonally extending slot, and a lever pivoted adjacent the end of said tubular housing, said lewer having a projection extending into said diagonally extending slot whereby transverse swinging movement of said lever will move said slide member longitudinallyof said housing.

6. In a loose leaf binder, a tubular housing, an end cap closing one end of said housing, a slide member in said housing, a lever pivoted to said end cap for transverse swinging movement relative to said housing, and a link operable to translate said pivotal movement of said lever into longitudinal movement of said slide member.

'7. In a loose leaf binder, a tubular housing, an end cap closing one end of said housing, a slide member in said housing, said slide member being provided with a vertical shoulder, and a lever pivoted to said end cap, said lever engaging said shoulder to move said slide member longitudinally of said housing.

8. In a loose leaf binder, a tubular housing, an end cap closing one end of said housing, post locking mechanism in said housing, a slide member operable to move said post locking mechanism from locked to open position, a lever operatively connected to said slide member, said lever lying on one side of its dead center position when said post locking mechanism is in locked position and on the other side of said dead center position when said post locking mechanism is in its open position, and a spring having one end secured to said end cap and its other end to said slide member exerting constant force to retain said slide member in either inoperative or operative position.

WILLIAM NELSON. 

